New Palestine High School

The Dragons football team travels to Delta Friday night with an opportunity to clinch the outright HHC title in the regular season finale. 4A #3/4 New Palestine Dragons (6-2, 6-0 HHC) at Delta Eagles (5-3, 3-3 HHC) Time: 7:30 p.m. Location: Delta High School (directions: https://maps.app.goo.gl/setu5NfxYNS6QTU66) Tickets; $6, cash at gate Audio: NewPalRadio.com (coverage begins at 6:30 p.m.) SETTING THE SCENE The Dragons conclude the regular season with a trip to longtime conference rival Delta, looking to clinch the outright HHC title. The Dragons have clinched their ninth HHC title in 11 years. The previous eight were all won outright. The Dragons have won 13 HHC titles since 2005. This is the 31st meeting between the Dragons and Eagles. The series is tied 15-15, but NP has won the last 10 meetings. Last year, the Dragons won a 47-7 decision as Grayson Thomas ran for 187 yards and a career-high five touchdowns, a number he tied last week. The Dragons remained No. 3 in the IFCA poll for the second straight week. In the AP poll, they moved up one spot to No. 4. The Dragons are 73-2 in HHC games since 2013. DRAGONS NOTES The Dragons took an early 14-point lead against New Castle and never looked back last week in a 35-7 victory. Grayson Thomas ran for 210 yards and a career high-tying five touchdowns. It marked his fifth career 200-yard game, including his third this season. Thomas tallied five TDs in a game for the first time since Oct. 14, 2022, when he tallied five in a 47-7 victory over Delta. Sophomore QB Gavin Neal had 189 yards of total offense last week, with a career-high 93 on the ground and 96 through the air. He completed 10 of his 16 passes, setting a career high for pass completions. For the second straight week, he completed a pass to each of the Dragons’ four starting wideouts. Neal has thrown for 1,045 yards this season, the 20th 1,000-yard passing season in school history. A Dragon has thrown for 1,000 yards in each of the past 11 seasons. The Dragons have not punted in the last two weeks. Thomas has 1,476 yards this season and 5,374 for his career on the ground. He needs 33 yards to pass himself for 12th on the single-season rushing list. He needs 153 yards to move into the top 10. Thomas is NP’s No. 2 career rushing leader. Thomas leads the HHC and is third in Class 4A in rushing. With 20 TDs, Thomas also leads the HHC in scoring. Senior Kyler Kropp has 1,110 career receiving yards. He needs 10 yards to pass Blaine Nunnally for eighth place on the Dragons’ career list and 64 yards to pass Brandon Collins for seventh place. Kropp is fifth in the HHC with 524 receiving yards. Sophomore Caden Jacobia tallied 12 tackles - including four TFLs and two sacks last week. Sophomore Garrett Ranes also had two sacks and eight solo tackles. The Dragons had five sacks last week, as sophomore Josh Ranes also had one. The Red Rage has allowed fewer than 200 yards of total offense each of the last two weeks and 14 total points. The Dragons have scored on their first possession in five consecutive games. SCOUTING THE EAGLES Delta has one of the top defenses in the HHC, allowing 19 points per game coming into this week. The Eagles have held four teams to 14 points or less this season. Junior QB Bronson Edwards is throwing for 169 yards per game, with 35 passes and 549 yards going to senior D’Amare Hood. Senior Jonny Manor has 25 catches for 373 yards. Junior Nolan Carpenter and senior Kaiden Bond have combined for 1,068 yards in the running game. The Eagles were held to 130 yards of total offense, with Edwards throwing for 97, in last week’s 28-9 loss to Greenfield-Central. LOOKING AHEAD The Dragons open sectional play next week at home against New Castle. The winner will face either Pendleton Heights or Greenfield-Central in the Oct. 27 semifinal round. If the Dragons win, they would host G-C or travel to PH. The Dragons are two-time defending sectional champions. FOLLOW US All New Palestine games are broadcast free-to-listen at NewPalRadio.com. All home games are also video streamed at IHSAAtv.org on a pay-per-view basis. NPHS Athletics is on Facebook and Instagram (@NewPalestineDragons), Twitter (@NPHSDragons) and online (NewPalestineAthletics.com).